Kobold or Go Home

I. Jargon
A. Nitharateyo - The Land That Is (dwarvish)
II. Setting:
A. The mountain of Red Rock
1. A sprawling network of caves and tunnels underneath a large mountain.
Gets its red hue (and name) from the large clay deposits in the mountain
soil. Makes for easy excavation.
2. Not very rich in minerals or ore, but the clay soil makes for easy growing
of lettuce, chard, snap beans, broccoli, brussell sprouts, cabbage, and other
short root vegetables. These require above ground farming, which adds a
layer of danger.
3. Below ground is a small area of arable farm land for a variety of
mushrooms. The corpses of the dead are piled in in large pits and left to
decompose. The corpses grow small mushrooms which are edible. And
allow for composting to improve above ground farming.
4. Other food stores come from pillaging and theft
5. A strange poneglyph records some great Goblin secret.
B. Politics:
1. Goblins and Kobolds are forced together in Red Rock in order to avoid
complete annihilation. Goblins and kobolds are not naturally friendly
toward one another, but have been pushed into an uneasy alliance.
2. Red Rock is governed by the “Wise Council”, which consists of a small
grouping of goblinoid and Kobold elite. The Wise Council is not very
wise, and has internal strife to mirror the broader societal strife. The
competing interests of the council will cause its demise.
3. Wise Council does not have average goblin/kobold interests in mind.
III. Society:
A. Humans - Kingdom of Cormyr
1. Symbol is a purple dragon
2. Historically has had a long war with the Orcs.
3. Actually a misnomer because it includes other races such as dwarves,
elves, dragonborn, etc. Very multicultural
4. Standard foods. Engages in frequent trade.
5. Birthed the Champion Cyrus the Great, who negotiated a treaty with the
Elves, and subsequently dealt a decisive blow against the orcs.
6. Has since turned to securing their borders by eliminating kobold/goblin
nests.
B. Elves - The Leaves of Autumn
 1. Historically neutral, but was convinced by the human Cyrus the Great to
abandon neutrality and join the humans in stopping the Orcs.
2. Base of off ancient celtic culture
3. Live in a temperate forest. Practice horticulture and gatherer culture. Do
not harm animals. Does not ride animals.
4. Tree shaping ceremonies to acquire wood products.
5. Lacks much in terms of metal and stone equipment. Little trade with either
humans or dwarves.
6. Strong bend toward neutrality. Enforces neutrality via magic, and elusive
nature of cities
C. Orcs
1. Aggressive race that waged war on the humans.
2. Nomadic; acquire resources and food via pillaging, slaving, and raiding.
3. Inhabit wide fields; ride hogs
4. Recently dealt a blow and coerced into a peace treaty.
5. Enslaved and tortured most goblins and kobolds who surrendered to them.
D. Kobolds
1. Champions consist of half-dragons.
2. Cormyr is considered a traitor. The offspring of the union of red and blue,
this purple dragon was originally held in high regard. Until the dragon
betrayed Tiamet and allied with the humans. Kobolds believe Cormyr is
dead and is eaten and restored each day by Tiamet. Chews on his bones
and flesh.
3. Thus, Kobolds to not interbred with kobolds of a different color. Those
who do are ostracized.
4. Kobolds forced from their homes and hunted like rats. Forced to abandon
their capital and flee to the goblin held Red Rock.
5. Not happy about allying with the Goblins.
6. Lost home and much possessions. Rely on oral history.
E. Goblins
1. Led by the Wise Council (made predominantly by Bugbears and
Hobgoblins but now also includes kobolds and goblins).
2. Own Red Rock. Uneasy alliance with the Kobolds. Would grow wary if
kobolds gain too much power.
3. Treat Kobolds harshly as they “impose” on the goblins.
4. Strong culture of stone carving
a) Cultural legends include Slash the Mighty, who battled a dwarven
King. During the battle he was disarmed and feigned weakness.
The dwarven king grew bold and brandished his warhammer to
 deliver a wide over-head blow. Slash moved with grace, striking as
he would with a sword, and took the king’s head cleanly.
(1) Goblin bas relief of slash vs King, King no head, Slash
holding severed head in palm.
b) Goblinoid smiths who taught the dwarves their metalworking
techniques. Dwarves betrayed the smiths, smiting them with the
weapons they forged together. Supposedly the ghosts of the smiths
still wandering; bestowing the wisdom of the forge on the goblins
they find. Said to guard a legendary sword.
IV. Nearby Areas
A.

Culture
1. Location, terrain, weather
2. Food: agriculture, trade, livestock, pillaging,
3. What are buildings made out of? Stone, wood, magic?
4. Homogenous culture? How much cultural variation? Isolation leads to
variation
5. What do people do all day? Class system? Authoritative? Religions, Job
system, army
6. How does culture interact with the world?